Wheel hub with clutch

Abstract

A wheel hub with clutch where power is transferred through a drive, such as a chain that is linked between a peddle arrangement and a gear or gears splined onto the hub. The hub provides free-wheeling when torque is not applied thereto and will instantly engage, transferring an applied torque therethrough and into a wheel connected to the hub when torque is applied as through a peddle arrangement. For locking, the hub includes, as a radial load bearing component, a sleeve whereon a gear or gears are splined, with the splined gear sleeve mounting a thick ring for fitting into an end of a hub body. The thick ring contains spaced sloping slots, each containing a ball bearing. The hub body includes an annular ring that receives the thick ring fitted there and has spaced steps, or the like, formed therein to engage the ball bearing surfaces, transferring torque.

1. A hub clutch, comprising:
 a) a hub including a sleeve, a ring, and a hub body; 
 b) the sleeve is configured to accommodate at least one gear and transfer torque; 
 c) the ring at least in part contacts the sleeve and is provided with a plurality of slots that are shaped to accept means for engaging the hub body and the ring; 
 d) the hub body includes a first flange, a second flange, and a wall, wherein the wall is located within the hub body; and 
 e) means link the sleeve and the wall of the hub body and wherein the means moves circumferentially and radially. 
 
   
   
     2. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring and the means cooperate to transfer torque between the sleeve and the hub body cooperate to transfer torque between the sleeve and the hub body. 
   
   
     3. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes an axle sleeve and a gear spline sleeve. 
   
   
     4. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is provided with an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced bars. 
   
   
     5. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange each define a plurality of flange holes. 
   
   
     6. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel wherein the hub body supports the wheel. 
   
   
     7. The hub clutch according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a sleeve opening defined by the sleeve; 
 b) a ring opening defined by the ring; 
 c) a hub body opening defined by the hub body; and 
 d) an axle that passes through the sleeve opening, the ring opening, and the hub body opening. 
 
   
   
     8. A hub clutch, comprising:
 a) a hub including a sleeve, a ring, and a hub body; 
 b) the ring at least in part contacts the sleeve and is provided with a plurality of slots that are shaped to accept means for engaging the hub body and the ring; 
 c) the hub body includes a first flange, a second flange, and a wall, wherein the wall is located within the hub body; and 
 d) the sleeve carries at least one gear and is configured to move the means to a rotated position, wherein the means moves circumferentially and radially and transfers torque from the sleeve to the hub body. 
 
   
   
     9. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , wherein the means is configured to occupy an un-rotated position whereby the hub body free-wheels relative to the gear. 
   
   
     10. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is provided with an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced bars. 
   
   
     11. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve includes an axle sleeve and a gear spline sleeve. 
   
   
     12. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , wherein the first flange and the second flange each define a plurality of flange holes. 
   
   
     13. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a) a sleeve opening defined by the sleeve; 
 b) a ring opening defined by the ring; 
 c) a hub body opening defined by the hub body; and 
 d) an axle that passes through the sleeve opening, the ring opening, and the hub body opening. 
 
   
   
     14. The hub clutch according to  claim 8 , further comprising a wheel, wherein the hub body supports the wheel
 a) a sleeve opening defined by the sleeve; 
 b) a ring opening defined by the ring; 
 c) a hub body opening defined by the hub body; and 
 d) an axle that passes through the sleeve opening, the ring opening, and the hub body opening. 
 
   
   
     15. A hub clutch, comprising:
 a hub including a sleeve defining a sleeve opening, a ring defining a ring opening, and a hub body defining a hub body opening; 
 b) the sleeve is configured to transfer torque and is provided with an outer surface that accommodates at least one gear 
 c) the ring at least in part contacts the sleeve and is provided with a plurality of slots that are shaped to accept means for engaging the hub body and the ring; 
 d) the hub body includes a first flange, a second flange, and a wall, wherein the wall is located within the hub body; 
 e) wherein the ring and the means cooperate to transfer torque between the sleeve and the hub body; and 
 f) an axle that that passes through the sleeve opening, the ring opening, and the hub body opening. 
 
   
   
     16. The hub clutch according to  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve is provided with an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced bars that project outward from a portion of the outer surface and are shaped according to the gear opening. 
   
   
     17. The hub clutch according to  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve includes an axle sleeve and a gear spline sleeve. 
   
   
     18. The hub clutch according to  claim 15 , wherein the first flange and the second flange each define a plurality of flange holes. 
   
   
     19. The hub clutch according to  claim 15 , wherein the gear defines a gear opening that is located around a portion of the outer surface of the sleeve. 
   
   
     20. The hub clutch according to  claim 15 , further comprising a wheel, wherein the hub body supports the wheel.